faq - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 4RKids Foundation?
We are an organization that provides support and opportunities to children and adults with special needs in northwest Oklahoma. Our mission is to promote community awareness of individuals with disabilities and to provide vocational, educational and social/recreational opportunities for these individuals
What programs do you offer?
When was your organization founded? How did it come about?
We started in Enid, OK, in 2003. A small group of parents and educators of children and adults with disabilities recognized the need for more services and opportunities for developmentally disabled individuals in Garfield and surrounding counties of northwest Oklahoma. We pursue these goals in a number of ways, most visibly in three enterprises: 4RKids Mini Golf, The 2nd Story Gift Shop and The 2nd Story Employment Center.
Is 4RKids a daycare?
We are not a daycare. We provide support to children and adults with special needs and their families, as well as employment opportunities to adults with special needs.
What is the need for the vocational services provided by 4RKids?
There are approximately 213,253 individuals with disabilities in the state of OK (based on population estimates). Of those, approximately 3166 individuals with disabilities live in Garfield, Major, Alfalfa, Grant, Kingfisher and Noble counties. There are few service providers in Enid that provide vocational training. We are the only agency to provide these services in a setting that is regularly visited by the public. Every individual deserves the chance to have meaningful employment & to be able to give back to the community. The individuals we serve have the chance to develop and learn meaningful job skills while earning a paycheck.
When I donate to 4RKids, where does my money go?
Donations are used to support the variety of programs we offer. We provide vocational opportunities, resources, education and support to children and adults with special needs and their families in northwest OK. We also provide support through:
We are an organization that provides support and opportunities to children and adults with special needs in northwest Oklahoma. Our mission is to promote community awareness of individuals with disabilities and to provide vocational, educational and social/recreational opportunities for these individuals
What programs do you offer?
- Education – We provide information and resources to parents and educators in the area.
- Resources – We connect individuals to the services they need.
- 4RKids Mini Golf – We own and operate a miniature golf course that provides employment opportunities to individuals with disabilities and a fully wheelchair-accessible course.
- 2nd Story Gift Shop – The gift shop provides employment opportunities to individuals with disabilities.This is our venues for selling products made in the employment center and unique gifts.
- 2nd Story Employment Center – Clients with special needs perform shredding, recycling and product manufacturing tasks.
- Miracle League – We co-created this baseball league for children and adults with special needs.
When was your organization founded? How did it come about?
We started in Enid, OK, in 2003. A small group of parents and educators of children and adults with disabilities recognized the need for more services and opportunities for developmentally disabled individuals in Garfield and surrounding counties of northwest Oklahoma. We pursue these goals in a number of ways, most visibly in three enterprises: 4RKids Mini Golf, The 2nd Story Gift Shop and The 2nd Story Employment Center.
Is 4RKids a daycare?
We are not a daycare. We provide support to children and adults with special needs and their families, as well as employment opportunities to adults with special needs.
What is the need for the vocational services provided by 4RKids?
There are approximately 213,253 individuals with disabilities in the state of OK (based on population estimates). Of those, approximately 3166 individuals with disabilities live in Garfield, Major, Alfalfa, Grant, Kingfisher and Noble counties. There are few service providers in Enid that provide vocational training. We are the only agency to provide these services in a setting that is regularly visited by the public. Every individual deserves the chance to have meaningful employment & to be able to give back to the community. The individuals we serve have the chance to develop and learn meaningful job skills while earning a paycheck.
When I donate to 4RKids, where does my money go?
Donations are used to support the variety of programs we offer. We provide vocational opportunities, resources, education and support to children and adults with special needs and their families in northwest OK. We also provide support through:
- Various programs tailored to individuals with disabilites.
- Grants to special education teachers for innovative classroom programs
- Co-sponsoring Miracle League baseball, a baseball league for individuals with special needs
- Supporting adult Special Olympics teams
How many clients do you have?
As of July 2017, we have 45 individuals with special needs employed at 4RKids Mini Golf, 2nd Story Gift Shop, and 2nd Story Employment Center.
How does an individual enroll?
There are many different funding sources and resources available for the individuals that we hire. Because each person is unique and has different eligibility qualifications, it is best to call the 4RKids Foundation and speak to the Executive Director to determine if an individual can benefit from the services offered.
What is the cost for a client who is not receiving state-supported services?
The average Private Pay client works three hours per day for three days per week. The cost to support clients with this schedule is $180.00 per month.
What kind of donations do you need?
We always accept cash donations. We are also able to use donations of supplies for the many items produced in our employment center. These are some commonly-needed donations:
As of July 2017, we have 45 individuals with special needs employed at 4RKids Mini Golf, 2nd Story Gift Shop, and 2nd Story Employment Center.
How does an individual enroll?
There are many different funding sources and resources available for the individuals that we hire. Because each person is unique and has different eligibility qualifications, it is best to call the 4RKids Foundation and speak to the Executive Director to determine if an individual can benefit from the services offered.
What is the cost for a client who is not receiving state-supported services?
The average Private Pay client works three hours per day for three days per week. The cost to support clients with this schedule is $180.00 per month.
What kind of donations do you need?
We always accept cash donations. We are also able to use donations of supplies for the many items produced in our employment center. These are some commonly-needed donations:
- Books – any kind
- Small foam paintbrushes
- Plastic forks & spoons
- Paint
- Liquid hand soap
- Hobby Lobby gift cards
- Watercolor paper
- Modge Podge
- Wheat flour
- Copy paper
- Best Choice Labels
- Creamer
- Sugar and Artificial Sweetener
- Kitchen Sponges
- Latex Gloves
- Any size painting canvases
What do the clients do at 4RKids?
Our clients do many different job tasks. We provide document destruction services, including pick-up. We recycle aluminum cans and paper, manufacture dog biscuits, greeting cards, lotion, bath salts and jewelry. We also contract with companies to complete special projects. The manufacturing process for the products made in the Employment Center is broken down into individual tasks and steps in order to allow all clients to participate in some part of the process. Clients also learn customer service skills, how to operate a cash register, how to price and display inventory, lawn care, janitorial tasks, how to operate a concession stand and much more.
What can a company do to help 4RKids?
Every year we organize a Walk event. Corporate sponsors are needed to support this event. Another simple way for a business to support us is to assist in printing brochures and flyers or pay for postage costs for our bulk mailings. Businesses can also support us through contracts to provide document destruction services. We offer pick-up of shredding in Enid. Companies can also sponsor book donation drives and can encourage their employees to volunteer.
How is 4RKids funded?
We have a contract with the OK Health Care Authority to provide vocational training and employment to individuals with special needs who receive state-supported services. Clients that are ineligible for state-supported services may attend privately. Additional funding comes from private grants, foundations and community donors.
How are the 4RKids clients paid?
Clients are paid based on time studies. A time study is a task assessment that is performed to determine the length of time it takes to complete a task or step in the work process. An individual without disabilities is timed performing a set of tasks, then the client with disabilities is timed doing the same job. The client with disabilities is paid a wage based on their individual level of productivity. The pay rate for each job is based on the local prevailing wage, which is often higher than minimum wage. Some clients make minimum wage or more.
Department of Labor Special Minimum Wage information can be found here.
What does 4RKids do for children with special needs In the area?
What does it mean to receive DDSD services?
The Department of Developmental Disabilities is the division of the OK Department of Human Services that provides support to individuals with disabilities who qualify for state and federal subsidized support. Types of support include residential, vocational, medical and more. Individuals who may be eligible must complete an application with their local DDSD office to apply for services. Right now there is a 10 year waiting list for services. We encourage anyone who might qualify for services to apply as soon as possible. 4RKids can assist in completing the required paperwork. Please call for more information.
Our clients do many different job tasks. We provide document destruction services, including pick-up. We recycle aluminum cans and paper, manufacture dog biscuits, greeting cards, lotion, bath salts and jewelry. We also contract with companies to complete special projects. The manufacturing process for the products made in the Employment Center is broken down into individual tasks and steps in order to allow all clients to participate in some part of the process. Clients also learn customer service skills, how to operate a cash register, how to price and display inventory, lawn care, janitorial tasks, how to operate a concession stand and much more.
What can a company do to help 4RKids?
Every year we organize a Walk event. Corporate sponsors are needed to support this event. Another simple way for a business to support us is to assist in printing brochures and flyers or pay for postage costs for our bulk mailings. Businesses can also support us through contracts to provide document destruction services. We offer pick-up of shredding in Enid. Companies can also sponsor book donation drives and can encourage their employees to volunteer.
How is 4RKids funded?
We have a contract with the OK Health Care Authority to provide vocational training and employment to individuals with special needs who receive state-supported services. Clients that are ineligible for state-supported services may attend privately. Additional funding comes from private grants, foundations and community donors.
How are the 4RKids clients paid?
Clients are paid based on time studies. A time study is a task assessment that is performed to determine the length of time it takes to complete a task or step in the work process. An individual without disabilities is timed performing a set of tasks, then the client with disabilities is timed doing the same job. The client with disabilities is paid a wage based on their individual level of productivity. The pay rate for each job is based on the local prevailing wage, which is often higher than minimum wage. Some clients make minimum wage or more.
Department of Labor Special Minimum Wage information can be found here.
What does 4RKids do for children with special needs In the area?
- Miracle League – A baseball league for children and adults with special needs
- Teacher Grants – Provided to local special education teachers with innovative classroom ideas
- Resource referral and information
- Assistance in completing paperwork for DDSD, Social Security and more
- Autism Summer Camp
- 4RBowlers - A bowling league for individuals with disabilities
What does it mean to receive DDSD services?
The Department of Developmental Disabilities is the division of the OK Department of Human Services that provides support to individuals with disabilities who qualify for state and federal subsidized support. Types of support include residential, vocational, medical and more. Individuals who may be eligible must complete an application with their local DDSD office to apply for services. Right now there is a 10 year waiting list for services. We encourage anyone who might qualify for services to apply as soon as possible. 4RKids can assist in completing the required paperwork. Please call for more information.
